U.S. Customs and Border Protection is inviting public input on a project to build roughly 17 miles of vehicle barrier and more than 200 miles of patrol roads in the Big Bend area, with the comment period open through July 13
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is asking for public comment on a planned vehicle barrier system and road construction project in Brewster County, Texas, in the Big Bend region.
According to CBP, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin issued a waiver on June 9, 2026, intended to speed up construction of the planned barriers and roads. The agency said the full waiver, including the list of laws it covers, is published in the Federal Register.
CBP said the public comment process will remain open until July 13, 2026. The agency said interested parties can submit comments by email to [email protected] with the subject line “Brewster County Vehicle Barrier System Construction.” According to CBP, all comments received, including the names and addresses of those who submit them, will become part of the public record.
What the Project Involves
CBP said the project calls for roughly 17 miles of non-adjoining sections of low-profile, post-on-rail vehicle barrier — rather than the 30-foot bollard-style pedestrian barrier used elsewhere — along with about 205 miles of new or improved patrol roads and the installation of detection systems along the border.
According to the agency, the vehicle barrier will use steel posts supported by continuous steel rails, with alternating rail heights of about 4 and 6 feet and rails spaced roughly 4 feet apart. CBP said the project may also include fiber optic cables, utility poles, power cables, surveillance cameras, access and patrol roads, and utility shelters along the international border, as needed for Border Patrol operations.
CBP said additional information about the project, the comment process, and maps of the project areas — along with materials in Spanish — is available on the agency’s Environmental Management page at cbp.gov.
